Joe Biden backs compromise over Israeli judicial overhaul in call with Netanyahu
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Hashim Sheikh
- . March 20, 2023
- . Update: March 20, 2023 9:08 pm
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, backed efforts for the compromise over a planned reform for Israeli judicial overhaul in a call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
The White House said in a readout, “The President offered support for efforts underway to forge a compromise on proposed judicial reforms consistent with those core principles.” The White House statement revealed that the US President told the Israeli leader that democratic principles were a “hallmark” of the relationship between the US and Israel. The US President further told Netanyahu that “genuine checks and balances strengthened democratic societies.” Biden said that reforms to the Israeli judicial overhaul should respect core democratic values.
Recently, thousands of Israelis took to the streets to protest against the government’s judicial reform plans. They argued that the plan would undermine Israel’s democracy.
Netanyahu’s justice minister unveiled the new government’s long-promised overhaul of the judicial system in January this year. The planned reforms triggered 11 straight weeks of protests in the country, with many accusing the Israeli leader of using the reforms to quash possible judgements against him on the corruption cases.
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The reforms can reportedly weaken the supreme court by allowing lawmakers to vote on the supreme court ruling. Protesters fear that the Israeli judicial overhaul could increase the power of politicians in the country.
Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and head of the opposition, expressed concern over the planned reforms. He said he would fight the changes and cancel them if he returns to power.
Israel has been gripped by protests for more than two months. Israelis have repeatedly opposed a proposed overhaul of the country’s legal system, with many sending open letters warning the government.
According to the Israeli media, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog was working with a group of legal academics on a compromise proposal for the reform of Israeli judicial overhaul.
